Goldie and Red

Chapter 1 - Into the Forest

The crying and screaming grew quieter as the fire from the battle faded behind the trees. The man breathed heavily as his horse raced down the road, pine cones flying from under its hooves. 

He held her in close. She was silent, probably overwhelmed, and he felt her tiny heart beating under his grip. His daughter was safe and alive. That was enough for now.

"Selene!" He commanded to the horse as he pulled her to a halt. She neighed but did as she was told. She was white as snow with sparkling grey eyes that glistened from the moonlight above. He looked around, still, his cape smoothly moving in the breeze. His beautiful deep blue eyes scanned the darkness, taking everything in. No one was following them. Yet.

"Daddy," A sweet voice whispered. "Ssshhh, you mustn't make any noise my love." He replied. "But I want to go home." She whimpered. He stroked his five year old's hair. It was golden and soft as silk. He looked back to the vague view of the city, Solis. There was smoke rising from the buildings and a storm brewing above. 

They couldn't go back.

He turned back and ordered Selene to move again. The road was quiet now but he wrapped his spare hand over his scabbard, the impressive jewels on the sword handle reflected across the trees as they passed and the little girl quietly watched.

"Try to sleep now my love." the man cooed as he gently pulled her in closer to his chest. She sat in front of him, so small that the same hand the man used on Selene's reigns was enough to keep her steady. 

"Where's mummy?" she asked.

"Mummy is ok, she's following behind us." He replied unconvincingly. Luckily she was too young to read the tone of his voice. He hoped she was too young to remember any of this. "Your mother is stronger than the best of us, she's on her way to you I promise." He looked back at the city again, he wasn't wrong, but she should have caught up with them by now.

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The little girl was quickly awoken by sudden jolt and a rush of noise.

She opened her eyes to a blade only just missing her face. The man swung her away and held her out on the other side of Selene as his right hand took out his sword.

The impressive breadth of his arms was revealed as he towered above his opponent and slashed them with the large and exquisite weapon. It was no struggle, he was clearly an excellent swordsman, and his height was clear even when sat on a horse. But his eyes showed pain and sorrow. 

Another assailant came up behind and tried to snatch the little girl but her father pulled her into his shoulder and Selene shot away. The girl looked back and saw what looked like a stampede chasing after them. She started to cry and buried herself in her father's neck.

Selene suddenly pulled off the road and into the shelter of the deep forest. The girl glanced up and gasped at the sudden movement of the trees behind them. As if suddenly alive, they were arching and growing over each other before her eyes, almost intentionally covering their path from view.

She looked up to her father, who's face was intense and fierce. It scared her a little.

"Hold on tightly, don't let go of me ok?" he whispered. "I'm scared." She replied, her lip quivering. He locked eyes with her. It comforted her immediately. "I'm scared too. But you are strong my love, and so am I, together we are more than enough. I am going to keep you safe." 

A tear ran down his face as his daughter wrapped herself around him. He held her close.

A howl made Selene's ears perk up and glowing eyes appeared scattered around them. The man looked weary as Selene slowed down.

The pack moved in closer but the horse didn't move. A large wolf stepped out from the others and stopped facing up at them, whilst the rest started circling them.

The man looked around calculating. 

"Friend or foe?" He spoke out. 

The leader of the pack looked at him, titled its head, then slowly turned and walked off to the the side. The others followed, looking back at him, ushering to follow.

He adjusted the reigns about to follow but out of nowhere a blade sliced into Selene's front leg. She wailed and dropped to the floor. A couple of the wolves came bounding from the darkness and pounced mercilessly onto the swordsman. "Selene!" the man cried as he flew from her back and landed aggressively on the floor, his cape swinging behind him. 

The little girl screamed as another wolf rushed to his side. He looked down and then to the child in his arms. "Please keep her safe." he said as he placed her on the wolf's back. The girl whimpered as he bent down and kissed her forehead. "Stay here." They looked into each other's eyes. He took a moment to cherish her beautiful face. 

He whipped back up and standing upright, his stature was mighty. His flowing hair ruffled in the breeze as he took out his weapon just in time to defend himself against another blade flying from the darkness. 

The little girl was taken behind a large tree bordering the clearing of the fight. The wolf let her slide off its back but another came and interjected just before she could run towards her father. A third wolf circled until she could only see fur and cried as she looked up to the sky, helpless. The moon was bright and full as it shone through the huge trees. She could hear struggle, but she didn't understand why, she didn't understand anything. 

One of the wolves nuzzled her cheek as if to comfort her and she nestled herself into its fur. She was jerked out of the way as a large armoured figure tried to grab her. The wolves growled and leapt up to him as the trees started to arch in menacingly towards him.  At that moment she heard her father. "Stop this, we can end it together!" he cried as she turned to him. Two of the assailants fell dead at his feet as she caught his blue eyes just for a second, then he went stiff.

She furrowed her eyebrows, confused. Then. He fell.

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